Council likely to vote this week on Lytle Park historic district

Cincinnati Council could vote this week to approve an extension of the Lytle Park Historic District. It was first granted in 1964 and is set to expire in August.

The extension will cover a smaller geographic area, which includes removing some buildings on Broadway between East Fourth and Arch Streets. Previously those were in a less restrictive part of the historic district known as Area B.

"Area B has virtually no regulations, it's not a part of the core historic district, and we think the planning commission is making the correct recommendation in keeping those Broadway buildings out of the district," said attorney Peter Koenig representing some of those Broadway building owners.

The historic district comes with about 18 pages of regulations governing construction and renovation in the area. The goal is to preserve significant architecture.

Downtown resident Curt Grossman supports the extension, but is concerned about the reduction.

"I know it came as a surprise to you, as it did to us, that this district was actually going to expire," Grossman said. "Unfortunately others were not as surprised, and used that to work a lot of deals that in the long run shrank the district to the boundaries now before you. I feel it regrettable that politics played a role in shaping those boundaries rather than the overarching purpose of preserving the historic nature of this oasis in the city."

"No one has spoken against the district," said Vice Mayor David Mann, who chairs the committee. "The comments of concern are that the boundaries should be different and more inclusive. The reality is that it would take 6 votes to add geography. My count is that there are not 6 votes and we do have a timeline here, so I think it's important that we move forward."